Wiley Mayne, 1917-2007

Rep. Wiley Mayne, Iowa's Fourth District

Handsome, he was--and well-educated. He'd be 102 years old right now, but he died at ninety, having lived a fine and full life. You'll find his gravestone in the Sanborn cemetery, the town where he was born and where he went to school. You may have to hunt a bit.

In all likelihood, he was the only graduate from Sanborn High in the 1930s to go to Harvard, but he did, graduating in 1938, then took yet another year at Harvard Law. Why he transferred back home isn't recorded, but he did--to the University of Iowa School of Law, where he graduated in 1941 and took a position with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a couple years before joining the Naval Reserve and serving his country dutifully in a number of theaters--from the Mediterranean to the South Pacific. 

Wiley Maybe came home, moved his residence to Sioux City, married, had three children, and practiced law, built up a sturdy legal business in fact, and decided, in 1966, to run for Congress, and did, successfully, serving in the House of Representatives from 1967 until 1974, when Berkeley Bedell, a Democrat, beat him handily.

He had a distinguished career. He was a handsome man. I don't remember him myself, but I have no doubt that he was a strong voice for conservative values during his terms in the House, someone who listened to and served his constituents well. I can't imagine that he was a cheat, a liar, for some cheap grifter. Sanborn, like any other small town, has to have turned out a few of those types, I'm sure, but I'm guessing Rep. Wiley Maybe, from Iowa's Fourth District, was never thought to be a crook.

His little grave stone, in fact, may well be the most undistinguished thing about him or his record, if it weren't for the one hugely memorable vote he cast on the floor of the House. Wiley Mayne was a member of the House Judiciary Committee in 1974, when he voted against the Articles of Impeachment for Richard Nixon. He was one of just ten rock-solid Republicans who determined in their minds and hearts that Nixon absolutely should not be impeached.

Later, however, he changed his mind about that decision once his beloved President's malfeasance was so clearly evident on the tapes. Rep. Mayne told others that should Nixon be brought before Congress, he would definitely have voted for impeachment. 

No matter. Wiley Mayne lost the next election. His political fortunes were cast when he--and only ten other loyalists--determined to stick by their President. 

Today, our Fourth District Representative is infamous, a man stripped by his own party of his committee roles. In the last election he narrowly defeated a minor league pitcher named J. D. Scholten, even though here, in Sioux County Steve King did better than he did in any other county in the district. 

I'm not sure that Rep. Steve King knows the history of Fourth District. It might be of interest to him to review the story of our own Wiley Mayne.

Next time he comes around, he might profit from a thoughtful stroll through the Sanborn cemetery. Maybe lay some flowers, if permitted. 

That stone is not so easy to find.